[It's stupid of them both. Kate's distracted, too, and by the time Steinbeck realizes the Enforcer is coming towards them, he's too close for Kate's bow to be of any use. Kate reacts on pure instinct, stepping back and trying to pull Steinbeck with her, but she's too slow. Luckily for them both, the man seems to have lost his other weapons, and he's armed only with a baton. Unluckily for them, he brings it up in a short, brutal arc, and Kate isn't quick enough to react before it smashes into her temple. She goes down, out like a light, and crumples to the ground.]
[She does down, and it's like some string inside him snaps, and in an instant, he's turned his gaze on the attacker. He doesn't feel anything. He's already brought out his knife from the confines of his robes, and without delay, he moves in like a predator to stab it right into the man's chest. He does it again. And again. And again, until he's sure that the man's nice and dead.]
[Good.]
[He lets the corpse crumple to the ground as he moves to check Kate - oh good, she's still breathing - and pocketing his knife, he moves to scoop her up in his arms. There's a safe house nearby. He can take her there. There's blood splatter all over his robes and on his face, but he doesn't care. He can take care of it later.]
[When she'll wake up, she'll find herself in a slightly dingy room on a bed - there's the sound of running water in the background, probably from a bathroom nearby. In a few seconds, though, Steinbeck pops his head in the doorway, a relived look on his face when he sees that Kate is awake.]
Hey. Are you doing alright? You got a nasty hit back there.
[Kate comes to slowly, her head pounding. For a moment, she can't bring herself to open her eyes, much less move, but finally she forces herself to roll over, curling up into a miserable little ball. She's had concussions before, and they always, always suck. Her thoughts are so fuzzy that at first, she doesn't even register where she is or what happened, and then she remembers, and she's near ready to panic over the fact that Steinbeck might have been hurt when she hears his voice.]
Ow.
[It's a quiet, half-audible response, and when she tries to prop herself up on her elbow, her head spins. Worse than she thought. She sinks back down to the mattress.]
[He enters the room - he's shirtless, having removed his robes for washing, but he's still got a pair of pants on. He's sure Kate won't mind. Steinbeck makes his way to the bed, sitting down on the side to reach over and grasp her shoulder in reassurance.]
But I'm glad I got you out of there. It could've been worse.
[He tries to keep his composure, but somehow, hearing her call him her hero breaks it - he squeezes her shoulder, his voice already a little choked up.]
[The tone in his voice gets her to try to sit up again, much more slowly this time, careful enough to keep her head from spinning. She reaches out to cup his cheek, her thumb smoothing over his skin.]
Hey, it's going to take more than a little blunt force trauma to take me out. I'm okay, John.
[This is stupid. He shouldn't be so worried. Kate is fine, she's here, she's alive, there's no reason to get all upset over something that never happened. And yet, here he is, something dull and heavy in his chest. She touches his cheek, and he unconsciously leans into it, reaching up with his hand to grasp her hand.]
What if he had hit harder? I...I didn't react quickly. He had you down before I could even move. [He feels his eyes almost burning, like he wants to cry.] I just...I don't know. I can't stop thinking about it.
[She leans forward, resting her forehead against his gently and closing her eyes. Now that the adrenaline is gone, she's exhausted, and she has to fight to urge to simply curl up against him.]
You'd better not beat yourself up over this. I didn't move fast enough, either.
[A part of him wants to shake her, tell her that she shouldn't be out and about, she shouldn't pick fights she can't win. Another part wants to just hold her in his arms and stay like that forever, and forget the chaos of the world around them. And yet another part shudders at how close she is. He really could just lean forward a little...]
[He gulps.]
I'm not trying to. [But he is. He killed a man for her, and if given the chance to repeat it again, he'd do the same thing. Her safety is far more important than anything in this world.]
Kate, I...
[He moves his hand to clutch her shoulders. He feels like he's in a daze - there are so many things he wants to say, but he's scared to say them. She's so close, and he just wants to finally blurt out the truth, but...what if she doesn't feel the same way? But what id she does? He has to let her know just how important she is. He has to let her know.]
[Finally, he speaks up, his tone restrained.]
Kate...you know I'd do anything to keep you safe, right?
[She lets her hand drop in favor of looping her arms around his waist, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.]
I want to keep you safe, too, but I'm choosing to do this. I would be a coward if I stayed home when I knew I could help. You can't make me your responsibility.
[All he's thinking about is how she's here, arms around him, and by the Mother Tree, she looks too beautiful for words. All his hesitations feel like they're burning away the more he looks into her eyes, like they're just ash in the wind.]
I know. Kate, I know, just...I want to make you my responsibility.
[A pause. He feels like his heart is beating in his ears.]
I want you.
[And with that, he finally gives in, leaning to close the distance with a kiss.]
[It isn't as though Kate hasn't guessed at his feelings, it's just that things keep getting in the way. She isn't usually one to hesitate, but most of the time it's like they barely have time to think with everything going on. As soon as he presses his lips against hers, though, she kisses him back as easily as breathing, tension she didn't realize she was holding onto easing from her shoulders, even as her heart skips a beat. It's a pleasant feeling, exhilarating, and she presses close instinctively, relaxing against him.]
[He's been too obvious for too long, but he's always found something to hold it back. Now, he doesn't have to. She returns his kiss and doesn't pull away, and he feels elation running through his veins. He's hers. She's his. They're together, finally, in a way that Steinbeck has been craving for far too long.]
[He deepens the kiss, too excited to stop, and pulls her in closer - he might be shirtless, but he doesn't care. He'll bare it for her, scars and all.]
[Kate lets out a soft, pleased sound, more than willing to follow his lead. She trails a hand down his back, light and experimental, the pattern of scars almost lace-like under her fingers. He deepens the kiss and she tries to slow them down just a little, her movements languid, because the last thing she wants is to pull away but her head is still just a bit fuzzy and she's sore all over. It doesn't matter, though, because this is... nice. Nice in a way she hasn't experienced since the rioting started, and nice in a way she desperately needs right now.]
[He feels her bringing him back to a slower pace, and he's fine with that - it's true, he's getting ahead of himself. He's too eager for this, too desperate for this contact, and she's still hurt.]
[One hand goes to the back of her head, fingers brushing through her hair slowly - he pulls away momentarily, breathless, his voice quiet:]
I'm not hurting you, am I? [He breaths, bending in to steal another kiss, quickly.]
Ah, well, I'd say yes, but let's not make a habit of that.
[He chuckles at that, giving her a quick, sweet kiss on the cheek. A sweet kiss for an equally sweet girl. When he draws back, though, he smirks, almost looking mischievous.]
Hey, time flies when you're having fun, right? [His calloused hands gladly move forward with her tug, fingers pressing gently on her hips.]
I'm sure we'll make it work. [He sighs, pressing his lips against her jawline. She's so soft, really. He's all scarred, his skin rough, but she isn't like that.] It's not like we're busy 24/7, are we?
[Kate feels a tiny twinge of guilt, just for a second. She should be out helping, but then he presses his lips to her jaw and that disappears as she sighs, tilting her head slightly to give him more room. She's hurt, and she's not going to be much help anyway. They can stay, just for a bit.]
I guess I can try to find some time for you.
[She reaches up to brush her fingers through his hair gently.]
[She really is in no state to be out in the riots like this. He won't let her. As long as he can be here, keeping her safe, he doesn't care about what they have to do. This is what matters, here and now.]
I would love to make you feel better. [He says, kissing all the way down to stop before he reaches her clavicle.]
You're feeling okay for that, though? [He doesn't want to make things worse if he can.] We could always do this when you're feeling better.
[Kate shivers slightly as he moves down her neck, then shifts forward to pull herself into his lap, settling her knees on either side of his hips, her voice breathless and teasing.]
[It's pretty clear she has no qualms with moving forward. He shudders. They're so close. He lets out a sigh, glancing upwards as his fingers shift over her hips to the edge of her shirt.]
That so? [He smiles, his eyes narrowing in an amused, delighted look as he slips his fingers under her shirt, pressing against the skin there for a moment before he starts to slide his hands up, slowly.] Guess I'll just have to be careful, then.
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[She does down, and it's like some string inside him snaps, and in an instant, he's turned his gaze on the attacker. He doesn't feel anything. He's already brought out his knife from the confines of his robes, and without delay, he moves in like a predator to stab it right into the man's chest. He does it again. And again. And again, until he's sure that the man's nice and dead.]
[Good.]
[He lets the corpse crumple to the ground as he moves to check Kate - oh good, she's still breathing - and pocketing his knife, he moves to scoop her up in his arms. There's a safe house nearby. He can take her there. There's blood splatter all over his robes and on his face, but he doesn't care. He can take care of it later.]
[When she'll wake up, she'll find herself in a slightly dingy room on a bed - there's the sound of running water in the background, probably from a bathroom nearby. In a few seconds, though, Steinbeck pops his head in the doorway, a relived look on his face when he sees that Kate is awake.]
Hey. Are you doing alright? You got a nasty hit back there.
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Ow.
[It's a quiet, half-audible response, and when she tries to prop herself up on her elbow, her head spins. Worse than she thought. She sinks back down to the mattress.]
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[He enters the room - he's shirtless, having removed his robes for washing, but he's still got a pair of pants on. He's sure Kate won't mind. Steinbeck makes his way to the bed, sitting down on the side to reach over and grasp her shoulder in reassurance.]
But I'm glad I got you out of there. It could've been worse.
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My hero.
[It's soft and almost teasing, but there's too much sincerity in it for it to be totally a joke.]
Did he hurt you?
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[He tries to keep his composure, but somehow, hearing her call him her hero breaks it - he squeezes her shoulder, his voice already a little choked up.]
...I was so scared I'd lose you, Kate.
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Hey, it's going to take more than a little blunt force trauma to take me out. I'm okay, John.
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[This is stupid. He shouldn't be so worried. Kate is fine, she's here, she's alive, there's no reason to get all upset over something that never happened. And yet, here he is, something dull and heavy in his chest. She touches his cheek, and he unconsciously leans into it, reaching up with his hand to grasp her hand.]
What if he had hit harder? I...I didn't react quickly. He had you down before I could even move. [He feels his eyes almost burning, like he wants to cry.] I just...I don't know. I can't stop thinking about it.
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[She leans forward, resting her forehead against his gently and closing her eyes. Now that the adrenaline is gone, she's exhausted, and she has to fight to urge to simply curl up against him.]
You'd better not beat yourself up over this. I didn't move fast enough, either.
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[A part of him wants to shake her, tell her that she shouldn't be out and about, she shouldn't pick fights she can't win. Another part wants to just hold her in his arms and stay like that forever, and forget the chaos of the world around them. And yet another part shudders at how close she is. He really could just lean forward a little...]
[He gulps.]
I'm not trying to. [But he is. He killed a man for her, and if given the chance to repeat it again, he'd do the same thing. Her safety is far more important than anything in this world.]
Kate, I...
[He moves his hand to clutch her shoulders. He feels like he's in a daze - there are so many things he wants to say, but he's scared to say them. She's so close, and he just wants to finally blurt out the truth, but...what if she doesn't feel the same way? But what id she does? He has to let her know just how important she is. He has to let her know.]
[Finally, he speaks up, his tone restrained.]
Kate...you know I'd do anything to keep you safe, right?
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[She lets her hand drop in favor of looping her arms around his waist, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.]
I want to keep you safe, too, but I'm choosing to do this. I would be a coward if I stayed home when I knew I could help. You can't make me your responsibility.
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[All he's thinking about is how she's here, arms around him, and by the Mother Tree, she looks too beautiful for words. All his hesitations feel like they're burning away the more he looks into her eyes, like they're just ash in the wind.]
I know. Kate, I know, just...I want to make you my responsibility.
[A pause. He feels like his heart is beating in his ears.]
I want you.
[And with that, he finally gives in, leaning to close the distance with a kiss.]
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[He deepens the kiss, too excited to stop, and pulls her in closer - he might be shirtless, but he doesn't care. He'll bare it for her, scars and all.]
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[One hand goes to the back of her head, fingers brushing through her hair slowly - he pulls away momentarily, breathless, his voice quiet:]
I'm not hurting you, am I? [He breaths, bending in to steal another kiss, quickly.]
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[She's a little breathless, too, but she's smiling, leaning forward to rest her forehead against his.]
Do I get to make out with you every time I get a concussion?
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[He chuckles at that, giving her a quick, sweet kiss on the cheek. A sweet kiss for an equally sweet girl. When he draws back, though, he smirks, almost looking mischievous.]
How about we make out any time we want, then?
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Any time we want? I don't think we'll get anything done, but I'm not complaining.
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I'm sure we'll make it work. [He sighs, pressing his lips against her jawline. She's so soft, really. He's all scarred, his skin rough, but she isn't like that.] It's not like we're busy 24/7, are we?
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I guess I can try to find some time for you.
[She reaches up to brush her fingers through his hair gently.]
Want to try to make me feel better?
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I would love to make you feel better. [He says, kissing all the way down to stop before he reaches her clavicle.]
You're feeling okay for that, though? [He doesn't want to make things worse if he can.] We could always do this when you're feeling better.
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Be careful. I'm delicate.
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[It's pretty clear she has no qualms with moving forward. He shudders. They're so close. He lets out a sigh, glancing upwards as his fingers shift over her hips to the edge of her shirt.]
That so? [He smiles, his eyes narrowing in an amused, delighted look as he slips his fingers under her shirt, pressing against the skin there for a moment before he starts to slide his hands up, slowly.] Guess I'll just have to be careful, then.
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Hey, don't be too careful. You have to keep things interesting.
[And then she slips a finger underneath his chin, trying to tilt his head up to kiss him again.]
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